124 



EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 



64 VICTORIA, A. 1901 



The best time to sow seed for a cover crop is sometime in the month of July, pre- 

 ferably about the middle, as the growth of the fruit trees is well advanced by that 

 time, and the fruit itself well developed. The seed should be sown, if possible, 

 when the ground is moist, as at that time of year it will germinate quickly if there is 

 moisture. At the Central Experimental Farm it has been found that Common Red 

 clover or Mammoth Eed clover, sown broadcast at the rate of 12 pounds per acre, gives 

 the best results, although on light soil, Lucerne, sown at the rate of 15 pounds per 

 acre, will grow taller by autumn and hold the snow better. After the seed is sown the 

 land should be rolled, as this will bring the moisture to the surface and about the 

 seed and hasten germination. It is important to get growth started in good time, as 

 there is often protracted drought in July and August which prevents germination and 

 spoils the prospect for a good cover crop. Buclvwheat and rye also make good cover 

 crops, but the advantage of using clovers is that they are what are known as leguminous 

 plants, and these assimilate nitrogen from the air through the nodules on their roots ; 

 thus, by using this class of plants, nitrogen, the most expensive plant food, may be 

 had for the price of the seed. The Hairy Vetch (Vicia villosa) has given good satis- 

 faction where it has been tested. In dry districts where it is difficult to get a catch 

 of clover, this is likely to prove very valuable. It grows until late in the autumn, as it 

 takes a severe frost to kill it. It also belongs to the leguminous class of plants. It 

 has not proved hardy at Ottawa, thoi;gh as yet only tested in small plots. 



In the spring the clover may be let grow until there is a good crop to plough 

 under, but in those districts where drought is likely to occur in the summer, it is much 

 better to plough the land as soon as it can be worked, without waiting for any new 

 growth. The following figures, taken from Bulletin 164, of the Michigan Experi- 

 ment Station, show how much moisture may be saved by ploughing early : — 



' Two tests were made in Field No. 6. The ploughing was done May 2. Samples 

 were taken for determination of moisture on May 10 and 17, with the following 

 results : — 



'This gives a diiference in the first instance of 2*8 pounds per square foot to a 

 depth of 3 feet, and of 1 -i pounds in tlie second instance, in favour of the land 

 ploughed early in the spring. 



' Experiments tried by Professor King, and reported in the Wisconsin Report for 

 1891, pages 101 and 102, show larger difterences. The ploughing was done on April 

 29 and samples taken on May 6, showing a difference for the upper 3 feet of 7-02 

 pounds of water per square foot. On another plot the observed difference of the 

 samples taken on May 14 to the same depth was 4 '65 pounds. 



These determinations all show that to have as large a supply of moisture as 

 possible for the crop it is necessary to plough or work the soil in some way to form 



